Standard peripheral communications

• US 20010036866A1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Stockdale, James
• Granted Patent: US 6,443,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine; and

a plurality of gaming peripherals coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller, each of the plurality of gaming peripherals comprising

a standard peripheral communications connection,

one or more peripheral devices specific to each gaming peripheral, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the peripheral connection, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices and is specific to the individual gaming peripheral.

2. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, further comprising a mother board including

an acceptor for the master gaming controller,

a root expansion hub containing a plurality of standard communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals.

3. The gaming machine of

claim 2

, wherein the acceptor is configured to allow the master gaming controller to be removed from the mother board without requiring disconnection of the gaming peripherals from the hub.

4. The gaming machine of

claim 2

, wherein the mother board is configured to allow additional gaming peripherals to be connected to the master gaming controller without requiring that the mother board be rewired.

5. The gaming machine of

claim 2

, wherein at least one of the standard communications ports is a secure port, having a level of security exceeding that of other ports on the hub.

6. The gaming machine of

claim 5

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure port.

7. The gaming machine of

claim 5

, wherein the secure port is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

8. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of hubs, each containing a plurality of standard communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals, and wherein at least one of the hubs is a secure hub, having a level of security exceeding that of one or more other hubs.

9. The gaming machine of

claim 8

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure hub.

10. The gaming machine of

claim 8

, wherein secure hub is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

11. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

12. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a standard device identification protocol for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

13. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing one or more device drivers for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

14. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a standard communication protocol that allows communication with the gaming peripherals via the standard communications connection.

15. The gaming machine of

claim 14

, wherein the standard communication protocol is USB.

16. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for encrypting, decrypting, or encrypting and decrypting communications between the master gaming controller and at least one of the gaming peripherals.

17. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to communicate high-level instructions that do not specify precise control of the peripheral devices of one of the gaming peripherals, and wherein the peripheral controller of the one gaming peripheral provides low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its peripheral devices and following the high-level instructions.

18. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the peripheral controller includes a non-volatile memory arranged to store at least one of a) configuration parameters specific to the individual gaming peripheral and b) state history information of the peripheral

19. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the peripheral controller includes a power converter arranged to convert a voltage coming from the gaming machine to voltages used by the gaming peripheral.

20. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin hoppers, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.

21. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming peripherals connected through hubs with standard peripheral communication connections in the form of a daisy chain where at least one of the gaming peripherals is connected to the hub on the mother board which is connected to the master gaming controller.

22. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the gaming peripheral includes a communications hub including the standard peripheral communications connection for communicating with the master gaming controller and a plurality of standard communications ports for connecting to the plurality of devices within the peripheral.

23. The gaming machine of

claim 1

, wherein the standard communication connection is a USB communication connection.

24. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine; and

a gaming peripheral coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller, said gaming peripheral comprising;

a standard peripheral communications connection,

one or more peripheral devices, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the peripheral connection, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices.

25. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, further comprising a mother board including

an acceptor for the master gaming controller,

a root expansion hub containing a plurality of standard communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals.

26. The gaming machine of

claim 25

, wherein the acceptor is configured to allow the master gaming controller to be removed from the mother board without requiring disconnection of the gaming peripherals from the hub.

27. The gaming machine of

claim 25

, wherein the mother board is configured to allow additional gaming peripherals to be connected to the master gaming controller without requiring that the mother board be rewired.

28. The gaming machine of

claim 25

, wherein at least one of the standard communications ports is a secure port, having a level of security exceeding that of other ports on the hub.

29. The gaming machine of

claim 28

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure port.

30. The gaming machine of

claim 28

, wherein the secure port is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

31. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of hubs, each containing a plurality of standard communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals, and wherein at least one of the hubs is a secure hub, having a level of security exceeding that of one or more other hubs.

32. The gaming machine of

claim 31

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure hub.

33. The gaming machine of

claim 31

, wherein secure hub is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

34. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

35. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a standard device identification protocol for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

36. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing one or more device drivers for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

37. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a standard communication protocol that allows communication with the gaming peripherals via the standard communications connection.

38. The gaming machine of

claim 37

, wherein the standard communication protocol is USB.

39. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for encrypting, decrypting, or encrypting and decrypting communications between the master gaming controller and at least one of the gaming peripherals.

40. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to communicate high-level instructions that do not specify precise control of the peripheral devices of one of the gaming peripherals, and wherein the peripheral controller of the one gaming peripheral provides low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its peripheral devices and following the high-level instructions.

41. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the peripheral controller includes a non-volatile memory arranged to store at least one of a) configuration parameters specific to the individual gaming peripheral and b) state history information of the peripheral

42. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the peripheral controller includes a power converter arranged to convert a voltage coming from the gaming machine to voltages used by the gaming peripheral.

43. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin hoppers, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.

44. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming peripherals connected through hubs with standard peripheral communication connections in the form of a daisy chain where at least one of the gaming peripherals is connected to the hub on the mother board which is connected to the master gaming controller.

45. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the gaming peripheral includes a communications hub including the standard peripheral communications connection for communicating with the master gaming controller and a plurality of standard communications ports for connecting to the plurality of devices within the peripheral.

46. The gaming machine of

claim 24

, wherein the standard communication connection is a USB communication connection.

47. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine;

a plurality of separately designated communications ports; and

a plurality of separately designated gaming peripherals in communication with the master gaming controller via the plurality of communications ports, each of said plurality of gaming peripherals comprising;

a standard peripheral communications connection, which is identical in each gaming peripheral,

one or more peripheral devices specific to each gaming peripheral, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, that controls communication with the master gaming controller over the peripheral connection and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices and is specific to the individual gaming peripheral,

wherein each of the plurality of gaming peripherals employs a standard communications interface in a manner that requires a portion of the plurality of separately designated gaming peripherals to communicate only over a portion of the plurality of separately designated communications ports.

48. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, further comprising a mother board including

an acceptor for the master gaming controller,

a hub containing at least some of the plurality of separately designated communications ports.

49. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, wherein at least one of the plurality of separately designated communications ports is a secure port, having a level of security exceeding that of other ports on the hub.

50. The gaming machine of

claim 49

, wherein the secure port is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

51. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of hubs, each containing at least two of the plurality of separately designated communications ports, and wherein at least one of the hubs is a secure hub, having a level of security exceeding that of one or more other hubs.

52. The gaming machine of

claim 51

, wherein master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure hub.

53. The gaming machine of

claim 51

, wherein secure hub is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

54. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

55. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing one more device drivers for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

56. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for encrypting, decrypting, or encrypting and decrypting communications between the master gaming controller and at least one of the gaming peripherals.

57. The gaming machine of

claim 47

, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin hoppers, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.

58. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine; and

a plurality of gaming peripherals coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller, each of the plurality of gaming peripherals comprising;

a USB communication connection,

one or more peripheral devices specific to each gaming peripheral, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the USB communication connection, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices and is specific to the individual gaming peripheral.

59. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine; and

a gaming peripheral coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller, said gaming peripheral comprising;

a USB communication connection,

one or more peripheral devices, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the peripheral connection, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices.